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A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator

Received: 3 July 2019     Accepted: 22 July 2019     Published: 6 August 2019
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Abstract

In the offshore oil and gas environment, there is usually the challenge with regards to available space offshore platforms for equipment installation; hence, compact separators are more attractive due to their small footprint. Also, in subsea oil and gas production, compact separators are attractive because of their light weight and ease of installation. A good understanding of the flow regimes in the upper part of the separator is essential for a robust design and operation. The performance of gas-liquid compact separator in terms of liquid carryover (LCO) and pressure drop depends on the type of flow regime in the upper part of the separator. However, there is a lack of experimental data on flow regimes in the upper part gas-liquid cyclone separators. In this research, data on flow regimes in the upper part of a 1.5-inch horizontal-inlet gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator was acquired using electrical resistance Tomography (ERT), wire mesh sensor (WMS), pressure transducer and visual observation. Based on flow imagining, observations and statistical analysis, the flow regimes were classified as swirling-annular, light-mist, heavy-mist and churn flow. A flow regime map for the separator was proposed based on a modified liquid and gas-Froude number. The work would be a useful guide to process engineers during the preliminary design and sizing of separators with similar geometry configuration.

Published in International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11
Page(s) 73-81
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Compact Separator, Flow Regime, Sub-sea Production, Offshore Platforms, Flow Regime Maps

References
[1] D. M. Lavenson, A. V. Kelkar, A. B. Daniel, S. A. Mohammad, G. Kouba, and C. P. Aichele, “Gas evolution rates – A critical uncertainty in challenged gas-liquid separations,” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., vol. 147, pp. 816–828, Nov. 2016.
[2] O. Kristiansen, Ø. Sørensen, and O. R. Nilssen, “CompactSepTM - Compact Subsea Gas-Liquid Separator for High-Pressure,” 2016.
[3] G. Kouba Edward, O. Shoham, and S. Shirazi, “Design and Performance of Gas Liquid Cylindrical cyclone Sparators,” in BHR Group 7th Internation Conference on Multiphase Flow, 1995, pp. 307–327.
[4] A. Hannisdal, R. Westra, M. R. Akdim, A. Bymaster, E. Grave, and D. T. Teng, “Compact Separation Technologies and Their Applicability for Subsea Field Development in Deep Water,” Offshore Technology Conference. Houston, Texas, USA, 2012.
[5] W. A. Chirinos, L. E. Gomez, S. Wang, R. S. Mohan, O. Shoham, and G. E. Kouba, “Liquid Carry-Over in Gas/Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Compact Separators,” SPE J., vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 259–267, Jan. 2000.
[6] S. S. Kolla, R. S. Mohan, O. Shoham, S. Wang, and L. Gomez, “Experimental Analysis of Liquid Carry-over in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separators,” IJST, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1–14, 2008.
[7] S. S. Kolla, “Liquid carry-over in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC©) compact separators for three-phase flow,” The University of Tulsa, 2007.
[8] Y. Zhou, “Experimental and Simulation Studies on Performance of a Compact Gas/Liquid Separation System,” Cranfield University, 2013.
[9] R. Hreiz, R. Lainé, J. Wu, C. Lemaitre, C. Gentric, and D. Fünfschilling, “On the effect of the nozzle design on the performances of gas–liquid cylindrical cyclone separators,” Int. J. Multiph. Flow, vol. 58, pp. 15–26, Jan. 2014.
[10] D. Bai, E. Shibuya, N. Nakagawa, and K. Kato, “Characterization of gas fluidization regimes using pressure fluctuations,” Powder Technol., vol. 87, no. 2, pp. 105–111, May 1996.
[11] F. Johnsson, R. . Zijerveld, J. . Schouten, C. . van den Bleek, and B. Leckner, “Characterization of fluidization regimes by time-series analysis of pressure fluctuations,” Int. J. Multiph. Flow, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 663–715, Apr. 2000.
[12] P. L. Spedding and V. T. Nguyen, “Regime maps for air water two phase flow,” Chem. Eng. Sci., vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 779–793, 1980.
[13] J. M. C. Van’t Westende, Droplets in annular-dispersed gas-liquid pipe-flows. TU Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2008.
[14] E. S. Rosa, F. A. França, and G. S. Ribeiro, “The cyclone gas–liquid separator: operation and mechanistic modeling,” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 87–101, 2001.
[15] J. J. Kolle, K. Theimer, T. Theimer, R. Cox, and S. R. Scherschel, “Coiled Tubing Jet Drilling With a Downhole Pressure Intensifier,” in SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition, 2008.
[16] R. Molina, S. Wang, L. E. Gomez, R. S. Mohan, O. Shoham, and G. Kouba, “Wet Gas Separation in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separator,” J. Energy Resour. Technol., vol. 130, no. 4, p. 042701, 2008.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sunday Kanshio. (2019). A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator. International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering, 7(3), 73-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11

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    ACS Style

    Sunday Kanshio. A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator. Int. J. Oil Gas Coal Eng. 2019, 7(3), 73-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11

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    AMA Style

    Sunday Kanshio. A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator. Int J Oil Gas Coal Eng. 2019;7(3):73-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11,
      author = {Sunday Kanshio},
      title = {A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator},
      journal = {International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {73-81},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ogce.20190703.11},
      abstract = {In the offshore oil and gas environment, there is usually the challenge with regards to available space offshore platforms for equipment installation; hence, compact separators are more attractive due to their small footprint. Also, in subsea oil and gas production, compact separators are attractive because of their light weight and ease of installation. A good understanding of the flow regimes in the upper part of the separator is essential for a robust design and operation. The performance of gas-liquid compact separator in terms of liquid carryover (LCO) and pressure drop depends on the type of flow regime in the upper part of the separator. However, there is a lack of experimental data on flow regimes in the upper part gas-liquid cyclone separators. In this research, data on flow regimes in the upper part of a 1.5-inch horizontal-inlet gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator was acquired using electrical resistance Tomography (ERT), wire mesh sensor (WMS), pressure transducer and visual observation. Based on flow imagining, observations and statistical analysis, the flow regimes were classified as swirling-annular, light-mist, heavy-mist and churn flow. A flow regime map for the separator was proposed based on a modified liquid and gas-Froude number. The work would be a useful guide to process engineers during the preliminary design and sizing of separators with similar geometry configuration.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    T1  - A Study of Flow Regimes in the Upper Part of a Compact Gas-liquid Separator
    AU  - Sunday Kanshio
    Y1  - 2019/08/06
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11
    T2  - International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering
    JF  - International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering
    JO  - International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Engineering
    SP  - 73
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7677
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ogce.20190703.11
    AB  - In the offshore oil and gas environment, there is usually the challenge with regards to available space offshore platforms for equipment installation; hence, compact separators are more attractive due to their small footprint. Also, in subsea oil and gas production, compact separators are attractive because of their light weight and ease of installation. A good understanding of the flow regimes in the upper part of the separator is essential for a robust design and operation. The performance of gas-liquid compact separator in terms of liquid carryover (LCO) and pressure drop depends on the type of flow regime in the upper part of the separator. However, there is a lack of experimental data on flow regimes in the upper part gas-liquid cyclone separators. In this research, data on flow regimes in the upper part of a 1.5-inch horizontal-inlet gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone separator was acquired using electrical resistance Tomography (ERT), wire mesh sensor (WMS), pressure transducer and visual observation. Based on flow imagining, observations and statistical analysis, the flow regimes were classified as swirling-annular, light-mist, heavy-mist and churn flow. A flow regime map for the separator was proposed based on a modified liquid and gas-Froude number. The work would be a useful guide to process engineers during the preliminary design and sizing of separators with similar geometry configuration.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 3
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Author Information
  • Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria

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